POSSESSION
1. Beginning January 1, 2013, a person shall not own, possess, keep, harbor, import or transport into this state, have custody or control of or propagate any Desert Tortoise or Ornate Box Turtle without a permit issued by the state. Unprotected species may be kept but in no event shall any person possess more than one bag or possession limit.
2. It is unlawful to import, export, sell, purchase, propagate or release any live wildlife without a commercial permit.
3. Possession limit of any Desert Tortoise is one per person. Limit for Ornate Box Turtle is zero (unless possessed prior to 1/1/2005 and special regulations apply to the possession of any progeny of those animals). Possession of all other turtles is 4. There is no limit on dead Apalone spinifera (spiny softshell), Trachemys scripta (slider), and Chelydridae (snapping turtles).
TAKING FROM THE WILD
1. A state hunting or combination license is required to take any turtle from the wild. A fishing or combination license is required for Softshells.
2. Bag limit and/or possession of all legal turtles except Softshells, Sliders and Snappers is 4 per year. Softshells, Sliders and Snappers have no limit.
3. Turtles may not be taken at any time (or during periods specified) in certain areas. Here is a link to Arizona Reptile Regulations showing those areas and dates: Link to Reptile Regulations
COMMERCIAL
1. A special license is required for any person who is involved with selling, trading, displaying, purchasing, exporting, possessing, propagating and rearing live aquatic animals or transports live aquatic animals to persons who are licensed to resell, process or stock aquatic animals.
2. A person who sells aquatic products at retail is exempt from the requirements of this section unless the person engages in any of the activities listed above.
3. It is unclear if a legally wild caught native live turtle may be sold commercially.